Huskers Post 12-Run Inning in Victory Over Shockers

Behind a 12-run fourth inning, the No. 18 Nebraska softball team overpowered the Wichita State Shockers and grabbed a 15-0, five-inning victory at the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, Kan., on Saturday evening. 

The Huskers’ (14-6) offense was balanced all night, as nine players had a hit and 16 notched an at bat. As a team, NU had 14 hits and posted a .467, which was its highest percentage of the season. Half of the Big Red's 14 hits came with a runner in scoring position.

Ava Kuszak continued her strong start offensively, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Tonight was Kuszak’s second multi-homer game of the season. Abbie Squier was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Jordyn Bahl and Bella Bacon added two hits apiece. Hannah Camenzind and Alina Felix each knocked a home run.

Nebraska used 20 players total, whether at the plate, in the circle or on base.

Bahl (7-3) grabbed the win in the circle after pitching four shutout innings and allowing only one hit while striking out six batters. Kylee Magee came in to close out the game and also allowed no runs, along with no hits. Ryley Nihart (0-2) took the loss for the Shockers (10-8). 

The Big Red held Wichita State to just one hit in the shutout performance.

The Huskers struck first in the top of the second inning. Olivia DiNardo kicked off the inning with a walk, and Natalia Hill came in to pinch run for her. Lauren Camenzind hit a sac bunt to advance Hill to second, and Bella Bacon reached on an error, which also scored Hill and gave NU a 1-0 lead.

Bahl opened the top of the third with a single, and Samantha Bland then singled and Bahl went to second. Ava Bredwell reached on a fielder’s choice and Bland advanced to second, but Bahl was out at third. DiNardo logged her first hit of the game to score Bland and make the score 2-0.  

The Big Red enjoyed a 12-run top of the fourth, led off by Hannah Camenzind’s first home run with Nebraska. Squier singled to center field and was sent home by a Kuszak home run. Bahl singled to shortstop and advanced to second and third and scored on three wild pitches. Bland walked, and Bredwell reached on a Shocker error, before the two went to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. DiNardo walked to load the bases, and Lauren Camenzind walked to send Bland to the plate. Williams pinch ran for DiNardo and Nessa McMillen pinch ran for Bredwell. Hannah Camenzind walked to score McMillen and Bacon singled to score Kennadi Williams and advance Lauren Camenzind to third and Hannah Camenzind to second. Squier doubled down the right field line to score the Camenzind twins. Katelyn Caneda pinch ran for Squier and Kuszak’s second home run of the inning scored Bacon and Caneda. NU led 14-0 going into the fifth. 

Alina Felix knocked her third career home run in the top of the fifth to add a run to the Big Red’s total. 

The Huskers will close the Shocker Invitational tomorrow, March 2 with a rematch against the Missouri Tigers at 12 p.m. (CT) in Wichita, Kan. The game is free to listen to on the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

• Hannah Camenzind’s home run in the fourth inning was her first as a Husker and the 10th of her career. 
• Ava Kuszak has hit at least one home run in nine of the Huskers’ 20 games this year, and two or more in two games. 
• Nebraska posted its 11th run-rule victory in the season’s first 20 games.
• Nebraska scored 14 runs, which marked the 10th time in 20 games the Huskers have scored 10 or more runs.
• The Huskers have outscored their opponents 157-26 in their 14 victories this season, including a 138-19 margin in their 10 run-rule wins.
• Today’s fourth inning marked the fifth time this season that NU posted three or more home runs in the same inning.
• NU scored 12 runs in the fourth inning. That is the Huskers' highest-scoring inning of the season. Nebraska has scored eight or more runs in an inning six times this year.
• The Huskers’ 15 runs are the third-most they have scored this season. 
• Abbie Squier tied her career high with three hits. 
• Nebraska’s team batting average in the game of .467 is its highest of the season.
• NU had four different players with a home run in the same game for the fifth time this year.
• The Huskers had 17 different players with an appearance at the plate.